(Photo via GLSEN Central Florida’s Facebook)
ORLANDO | The Central Florida chapter of GLSEN, a national organization that fights for every student’s right to a safe, supportive education, announced it is shutting down Nov. 25.
The chapter posted on Facebook stating it is with a heavy heart that its leadership shares the news.
“It’s been our absolute pleasure and honor to support and fight for queer and trans youth in Florida over the past two years,” GLSEN Central Florida wrote. “Although our board may not continue that journey under the GLSEN umbrella, we will continue that work in our personal capacities both in Central Florida and from afar, as some of us relocate.”
It continued with mentioning how the fight continues, just in different guises and its appreciation for the support.
Board member Jen Cousins said to Watermark Out News it was by no means an easy decision to come to the decision to end the chapter, and many factors played in. Her family has made the hard decision to leave Florida next year to settle somewhere safer for LGBTQ+ families.
“After proudly leading up GLSEN Central Florida for the past two years, our board has decided to sunset this chapter,” Cousins says. “With my impending departure, the rest of the board just doesn’t have capacity to carry on the work and expectations of a formal chapter. As mentioned in our announcement, we will all still carry on the fight in this arena, just not under the umbrella of the GLSEN organization.
“We will still use the power of our own voices and stories to advocate for LGBTQ+ youth,” she continued. “While I can’t understate how much I will miss my chosen Florida family, I need to put my children first and head somewhere I know they will be accepted and receive an education based on actual facts, real science, real history and no state mandated bigotry.”
GLSEN Central Florida was a grassroots initiative, working locally in the community to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. GLSEN was founded by a group of teachers in 1990 and believes in centering and uplifting student-led movements.
GLSEN’s mission is to ensure that every member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Sign up for the Watermark Out News eNewsletter and follow us for more:
BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads | YouTube
